Britain's Easter Story

In the first of two special programmes for Easter, choirmaster Gareth Malone and gospel choir conductor Karen Gibson travel round the UK to uncover the stories, music and traditions that have marked this most important of Christian festivals both in the past and today. From the stunning island of Lindisfarne to a Welsh mountain with a unique connection to Good Friday, Gareth finds out what links Easter to some of the country's most stunning historic sites. Meanwhile, Karen unravels the origins of one of the best-known Good Friday hymns and, with her mum, revisits some of the traditions she grew up with. And, as the pair join the preparations for events in York and Birmingham, they explore Easter's relevance in Britain today.

Gareth Malone and Karen Gibson uncover more of the history, music and traditions linking Britain to Easter, in the second of two special programmes. They travel across the country to explore how celebrations have changed over the centuries, taking in sites as varied as Whitby, Glastonbury, Hampton Court and Leeds. They discover how a medieval marital spat sparked change in the British church forever, why Easter was banned and by whom, and the story behind an Easter hymn by the nation's most prolific hymn writer Charles Wesley. And they're joined by the Kingdom Choir for an inspirational musical performance.